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How Obama Got His Mojo Back

When the “party of no” became, in its own words, the party of “Hell no!”the message to Obama was clear: He will have to act alone and without being subjected the siren song of bi-partisanship–which was really a stalling technique. By confessing (hell, bragging) about their eternal pledge on non-cooperation, the Republicans removed any incentive for Obama to cooperate.

Ah, the law of unintended consequences; it must surely be the most reliable Law of Nature. My fellow liberals and I should be down on our knees giving thanks to Anthem Blue Cross and Mitch McConnell for getting Healthcare Reform passed and giving Obama the courage to be himself and stop lusting after the unreliable goddess of bi-partisanship.

Healthcare reform, which was dead, sprang back to life when Anthem Blue Cross applied the paddles in the form of 39% premium rises. Liberals got it–and many conservatives also realized that our present course could not stand. Democrats came to life and Republicans lost heart. Even after all the name-calling and fear mongering, not to mention the faux outrage over “reconciliation,” the reconciliation process was swift and without any parliamentarian produced constitutional crises.

Then when both Mitch McConnell and John McCain pledged their eternal non-cooperation (finally a credible promise!), Obama believed them and immediately made 15 recess appointments. The Republicans made a strategic mistake that lots of parents make. By over-threatening and constantly criticizing, by the use of chronic outrage and the slamming of doors, they convinced Obama that there was no point, no gain to playing nicely. If they are already mad as hell and no gesture of peace is going to be accepted, people, children, political parties and presidents stop listening or frankly caring.

The whole experience of negotiating with Olympia Snowe and Chuck Grassley over Healthcare Reform and not getting a single Republican vote, while including some 200 Republican amendments, is an object lesson in following one’s own star.

The Republicans did this to themselves, and now Obama can finally be and become himself. Thanks John, Mitch and Sarah! You gave Obama his mojo and gave me my president back!
2010 Jonathan Dobrerwww.Dobrer.com